Apple has announced a new tool that will assist developers manage large catalogs of content, subscriptions and In App Purchases. The company says developers can apply to use the Advanced Commerce API to support eligible App Store business models and more flexibly manage their In-App Purchases within their app.
While there’s a large body of developers who release a relatively small catalog of apps, or perhaps just a single app, there are some who have many apps in the App Store with different subscription or In App Purchase options. Managing all those can be come complex so Apple has created the Advanced Commerce API.
Developers can apply to use the Advanced Commerce API to support eligible App Store business models and more flexibly manage their In-App Purchases within their app. These purchases leverage the power of the trusted App Store commerce system, including end-to-end payment processing, tax support, customer service, and more, so developers can focus on providing great app experiences.
Eligibility to use the Advanced Commerce API is based on three criteria:
Exceptionally large catalogs of one-time purchases:
Apps that include frequently added content from multiple creators, where each creator’s offering is merchandised as a single auto-renewable subscription. People can subscribe to one or multiple subscriptions within the app, each as a single In-App Purchase.
Exceptionally large catalogs of subscription content:
Apps that include frequently added content from multiple creators, with frequent additions, where each creator’s offering is merchandised as a single auto-renewable subscription. People can subscribe to one or multiple subscriptions within the app, each as a single In-App Purchase.
Provide access to subscriptions with optional add-on content as a single purchase within the same app as part of its core offering:
People can subscribe to a specific service as well as additional add-on content or services, all of which auto-renew as a single subscription within the same app. For example, an entertainment app that offers a subscription along with additional subscription add-ons, such as premium channels, sports, or regional content.
There’s further information at a new page Apple has published.
Registered developers can request access to the Advanced Commerce API by logging into their developer account from this page.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.